Throughout time, there has always been a fierce rivalry in East Anglia between Suffolk and Norfolk. The locals of Norwich and Ipswich have witnessed many historical battles on the football pitches at Carrow Road and Portman Road. The Old Farm Derby as it is also known is the most keenly contested rivalry between the neighbours, with Ipswich Town currently holding the bragging rights after their promotion to the Premier League last season. Norwich City did manage a win (1-0) and a draw (2-2) over their bitter rivals in the 2023/24 campaign, but it is Kieran McKenna’s side in the holy land playing against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Off the football pitch though, all aspects of life are discussed and debated to try and come to a conclusion as to which does certain things better. Whether you are a partygoer, restaurant lover, commuter to London, or just proud to be from Suffolk or Norfolk, debates will rage around which has the best nightlife, the best fish and chip shop, most convenient connection to London, or larger population and larger surface area. Folk from Norwich will always answer Norwich, and those from Ipswich will always root for their local town. However, for casino enthusiasts, the debate over which offers the best casino options is a close one.
Advantage: Ipswich
Neither Ipswich or Norwich can match the bright lights of larger cities like Manchester and Birmingham that offer grandiose casino complexes to those seeking roulette, blackjack, or poker action. Instead, the two offer more intimate options, with Merkur Slots providing two halls on Carr and Westgate Street in Ipswich with rows of electronic slots, bingo, and poker games. Bingo fans can also wander along the River Gipping to Buzz Bingo for live number calling.
You never have to go far to find casino action in the town of Ipswich, but in Norwich, the name of the casino game in Norfolk is casino hire. Anglia Fun Casino and Paradise Fun Casino provide high-quality casino props for any occasion. Whether it is an upcoming Christmas party, a birthday celebration, or a team bonding exercise, blackjack tables, roulette wheels, and mini versions of slots can be hired to jazz up an evening. Casino fans can also head to Admiral in the city centre for a range of electronic casino games.
Overall, casino enthusiasts might favour Ipswich for its casino offerings, but another advantage that Ipswich has is its proximity to London. The capital city can be reached in just over an hour, which is a short enough journey to go on a day trip. And if there is extra casino motivation, The Hippodrome and Grosvenor Casinos serve up electric atmospheres to accompany the casino action. While Norwich is a bit further up the road, Ipswich undoubtedly wins the commuting to London argument.
Secret option number three
While both Ipswich and Norwich boast decent casino options, there is another alternative that inhabitants of both locations can access. The online casino industry is currently thriving, especially in the United Kingdom despite the brakes being applied by the UK Gambling Commission in the form of wagering restrictions on online slots. However, in the digital world, there are a vast number of online casinos waiting to welcome you through their virtual doors.
With a wide variety of online casinos that house impressive repertoires of games and bonuses, there is also more choice out there in the online world. Depending on how you finance your casino craving, there are even online platforms dedicated to different payment methods. It is not unusual to find online casinos that support cryptocurrency, or casinos accepting credit cards, one of the more traditional methods for depositing funds.
These online providers have altered the landscape of casino play, offering players a more convenient version to play on. Land-based casinos are still popular and if you are out and about in Ipswich, then you can still interact physically with a slot machine. But for those other occasions at home, or even on the move, the online casino world is there and waiting.
